Before PERRIER was Called PERRIER
Today, extraordinary artists make both music and videos together in one package. Some of the most exciting musicians today even direct their own – so trying to pull apart the visuals from the song is like taking the champagne out of the soda in a spritzer. It’s boring, and where’s the fun in that? Better to enjoy the party and the amazing combination of a creative working in both mediums.
Here’s five self-directed music videos to fizz-up both your visual and aural senses – and start the party right on your laptop.
Blood Orange – Augustine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXtzcViZPGA
Big Apple-dwelling British singer-songwriter Dev Hynes is a man of many projects and styles, but it’s his introverted R&B-dance-pop that is in vogue now. For this irresistibly saintly tune, taken from his second album, he made a super-sincere love letter to Enn Why See, featuring vogue dancing, and Julian Casablancas.
The best party to play this video at: A breezy Brooklyn rooftop in summer, watching the sun set over the city.
Grimes ft. Janelle Monáe - Venus Fly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTLTXDHrgtw&feature=youtu.be
Speaking of saints, Grimes has emerged as a patron of fun AF weirdos everywhere. This video took that ante and upped it majorly, with the 360 artist kicking total hyperreal delirium with co-conspirator and fellow pop-augmentor Janelle Monáe for her self-directed video.
The best party to play this video at: A house-party-turned rave in South Korea where everyone is listening on bluetooth and your friends are Facetiming in from Vancouver.
FKA twigs - tw-ache
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nGFNayjYrM&feature=youtu.be
London jagged R&B megastar singer-dancer-director FKA twigs has directed so many of her videos it was hard to know which one to pick, but this stripped-down dance-off in a post-industrial room – choreographed and directed by her – is a total 100-emoji winner.
The best party to play this video at: At the pregame session in a Berlin flat decked out with bare concrete walls.
Róisín Murphy - Whatever
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4hSIxlSA3E
Róisín Murphy’s fourth solo album has been spun around the world, with everyone from music critics to Snapchatters loving the ice-cold art-pop. Her emoji drenched video is a hilarious high!
The best party to play this video at: At an elegant contemporary art-filled London flat, knocking back Campari and Perrier cocktails, and telling rude jokes with your slightly older friends.
Neon Indian – Annie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb4UcIZMhw8&
Neon Indian shot to indie fame by making super “CHILL!” experimental music that was really pop music played through a low-fi VHS: like listening to Madonna while flicking through TV. So what better video than a B-Movie crime caper, featuring Halloween guitarists and weird cops?
The best party to play this video at: A super chill impromptu get-together in a Texan motel during a post-SXSW road-trip.
